Several weeks after the White House unveiled a plan to free up 500 MHz of spectrum over the next 10 years, two senators have introduced legislation intended to provide a clearer picture of the current spectrum crunch.

Among other things, the Spectrum Measurement and Policy Reform Act from Sens. John Kerry and Olympia Snowe call on the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to take stock of the spectrum that's actually out there.

Specifically, the bill wants the agencies to work together to figure out who is using what on the electromagnetic spectrum and how often they use it, which will lay the groundwork for a national strategic plan for spectrum. They would also have to implement spectrum sharing and reuse programs, which would be areas used by commercial and government interests.

"Our nation's competitiveness, economic growth, and national security demand that we allocate the necessary attention to current policy shortcomings, and enactment of this vital legislation will help avert the looming spectrum crisis and allow us to continue to enjoy the boundless benefits of spectrum-based services," Sen. Snowe, a Maine Republican, said in a statement.

"Our nation's airwaves are finite resources, and we need to use them as efficiently as possible," said Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat. "This analysis will help us empower innovation, encourage competition, and lower prices for emerging technologies nationwide."

The White House plan also calls on NTIA and the FCC to work together on a spectrum inventory. Freeing up 500 MHz of spectrum was also one of the major recommendations in the FCC's national broadband plan. Many of the plan's components, however, are just that – recommendations – and FCC needs the White House, other government agencies, or Congress to help get the ball moving.

Internet group Public Knowledge praised the bill.

"The bill would help the government figure out what spectrum is being used by whom, require more flexible use of spectrum through sharing and reuse and give the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) much-needed authority to free up private and public sector spectrum by sharing auction proceeds with the current holders of spectrum," president and co-founder Gigi B. Sohn said in a statement.